Uconn

Wreh-Wilson tries to be an invisible man for Huskies By Ed Daigneault Republican-American

Connecticut Blidi Wreh-Wilson (5) picks off this Louisville pass in the end zone in front of intended receiver DeVante Parker during overtime in an NCAA college football game in Louisville, Ky., Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012. Connecticut 23-20 in triple overtime. (AP Photo/Garry Jones)

STORRS — Being lonely on a field populated by 22 mostly large men is not an easy thing to do, yet it is the ultimate goal of anybody who plays cornerback.

It might be the one position in sports where worth is determined by how much you are not noticed. The more unnoticed a cornerback is, the better he is perceived to be. UConn cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson hasn't been noticed much this year.

That's why he is arguably the best NFL prospect the Huskies have.

"It's a little weird knowing that the better you are, the more invisible you become," Wreh-Wilson said. "I guess that's the point, though. It shows the kind of respect other teams have for you if they aren't throwing to receivers in your area very much. I take it as a sign of respect."

There is a reason Wreh-Wilson has just one interception this year. Opponents tend to stay away from him as much as possible. Louisville challenged him one time Saturday, and Wreh-Wilson came up with the defensive play that kept UConn's otherwise forgettable season from being meaningless.

Louisville had the ball to start the third overtime. Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater tossed a pass into the end zone on Wreh-Wilson's side. It turned out to be a huge mistake. Wreh-Wilson easily intercepted the pass, giving UConn possession and the knowledge that all it needed

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for its first road win against a ranked team was a Chad Christen field goal.

Christen sent the 30-yard attempt straight through the uprights, making this week's game against Cincinnati mean something. Win and the Huskies gain bowl eligibility. That interception, the only one Wreh-Wilson has this season, meant everything.

He hasn't had a lot of chances to make a huge impact, at least not a tangible impact, because opposing offenses fear him. But given the biggest opportunity of the season, Wreh-Wilson made it count.

"He's played at a very high consistent level," coach Paul Pasqualoni said. "He is a very dependable corner, which is a pre-requisite for the position. Let's face it, the corner is one-on-one out there a lot of times. He's played at a high level and made that play at the end to win the game [at Louisville]; gave us a chance to kick the field goal. He's really played well."

That has been the case for much of his career.

Wreh-Wilson has played in 49 career games, tied with defensive end Trevardo Williams and fellow cornerback Dwayne Gratz for most among the defensive players. He would have the lead if not for having missed five games last year with a knee injury. He has 178 career tackles and 27 pass break-ups.

At 6-feet, 190 pounds, Wreh-Wilson has the type of cornerback body that NFL teams love. He has the speed, the size, the instincts, the techniques that will likely push him into the early rounds of the NFL Draft. He has made a name for himself by not being noticed.

"Going against him in practice has made me better, I know that much," senior receiver Nick Williams said. "He sticks to you. It's frustrating but it teaches you how to be more precise in your routes. It's easy to see why teams throw away from his side.

"Blidi really is a lock-down corner. He's that good."

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